Emergency wheel for pneumatic tires



1954 J. B. DES ROSIERS 2,670,245

EMERGENCY WHEEL FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed April 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I I 64 /68 JNVENTOR.

(72722213, lie'jzasz'e'z s Feb. 23, 1954 J B. DES o5 Rs 2,670,246

EMERGENCY WHEEL FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed April 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. 1 6MBWZJ BY W Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE 52,670,246 EMERGENCY WHEEL 1 0R IPNEUMATIC TIRES My;invention-relates toimprovementsin pneumatic-tires andcomprises a pneumatic :tire of a width equal to present day balloon or so-called cushion tires presenting a large area o'fcontact on the roadand comprises the'provision of a tire :which is preferably at least substantially twice as deep as ordinary tires'and adaptedtolbe used on a rim of much smaller radius than present day types of tires.

I amyaware that others have attempted to increaseathe volumetric size of thetire by providring-a groove in'a rim of standard radius and-permitting a portion-'ofthe "tube to descend awithin thegroove. ,I believe I am the'fi-rst, however, to providea tire wherein the whole shoe isgmade of a size not only to fill a-groove in the usual sized rim, but also to extend downwardly into the wheel substantially the depth. of an ordinary tire, also extending its usual 7 ,rim at least doubling the amount of air in the tire toadd to the'cushioning qualities thereof.

Dueto the greater volume provided-by mytire, :a larger deformation of the'tire when striking a :bump or abutment is required toeproduce a-given change of pressure than would be the case with standard short depth tires which rmeans'that a ggivenbump onthe roadwill-apply a smaller "jolt to the car occupants, and due tothe-factthatza much greater amount of air -is present, the the will be much .cooler, due .to the'factthat :the flows of ;pressure caused by the bump will be rdistributed throughout a great volumea-nd the friction of the air particles against each other corre- .spondingly lessened thereby, providing much cooler running qualities to-the tire-in-use, "preventing any excessive amount of heat-to cause deterioration of the tire.

.Iralso suitably modify the rim structure TSO as to provide a-rimof much less radius-than usual, but 1- preferably provide inner and :outerrfianges up to substantially the height of a standard type 'o'frim to abut the lower portions Ofz'ChB wallstof rmy improved tire substantially up to the height of thestandard rim and therebyprovide a:struclture which will positively not pullv out.

In accordance with my invention, lIwprovide-a pneumatic tire generally oblong in section and having 4 an innerchamber portion for containing the air, having-a heightsubstantially of at least twice its width and having a substantially flat 4' lower end and substantially flatside walls-so that :the lower rectangular portion ;of :the the will Ethfi maintained in position between "the small :rim :andithe inner and footer-relatively high tire wall :abuttingflanges, each preferably .r.of:substantially =J half the height of the tire, providing a structure rom which it is almost impossible to remove the tire, so'that on' a blow-out the tire positively will not come cutofposition and be ripped to pieces by furtheroperation of the vehicle.

Further advantages of -my invention are the saving of wear on the car, due to theextracushioning features provided 'by my tire, the tire at the same time giving-a more comfortable ride, and reducing the amount of heat producedin the operation thereof, thus largely eliminating any premature deterioration of the tire, due to the excessive heat created as in presenttypes of tires.

A-further object of my invention is to provide a solid emergency wheel'having a supporting rim of a radius slightly'less than the radius of the main tire mounting wheel, having my improved tire mounted thereon, mounted on said axle, "so

that should a blow-out or puncture occurin-my tire, the vehicle will be supported 'bythe solid emergency wheel, thereby eliminating many of the dangers present with present 'claytires, re-

sulting from punctures or blow-outs, and enabling-the driver of a vehicle equipped with my invention to drive to the nearest garage with a 'flat tire without injurious effects on'the fla'ttire and tube, which emergency rim also facilitates-the jacking of the wheel and the changing of the tires.

Further features of my invention relate tothe "particular structureof'the tire employed and the modifications in the :wheel and rim necessary-to mount my improved tire thereon, all of which provide a construction which is simple and inexpensive "to manufacture and one which maybe readily and :quickly mounted-and dismounted in use.

These and such otherobjects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be bestunderstood from 'a description of the accompanying drawings.

'Invtheedrawings, Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a tire and adjacent upper portion of a vehicle wheeloonstructed inaccordance-with one embodiment of my invention.

' Fig.2 is aside elevation'looking atthe outside of a wheel equipped'with invention shownin Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is :a vertical sectional view through :a tire the embodiment of lmy and adjacent upper portion of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance :with a different lemibodi-ment of ,myinvention.

Fig. 411s a-sideelevation looking at the outside rota wheel equipped with the embodimentrof my invention shown "in ?Fig.(i3.

:E'ig. fi's'is' a zyerticalzsectional=viewfthroughaa tire 26" abutting the tire rim l6, l8, l6". hitherto, the rim l6, l6,

have provided an emergency and adjacent upper portion of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance with a different embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation looking at the outside f a wheel equipped with the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicate like parts throughout, I0, l and generally indicate embodiments of vehicle wheels constructed in accordance with my invention.

As stated hitherto, my invention essentially comprises a novel type of pneumatic tire l2, I2, l2" generally oblong in section having an inner chamber portion 49, 4D, 40", having a height of substantially twice its width, having a substantially flat lower and l3, l3, l3" and substantially flat side walls 24, 24', 24". The tire side walls 24, 2-4, 24" terminate in the flat lower ends 26, 26',

I6" is of much smaller radius than the usual tire rim, by substantially the normal height of a normal tire, so that a tire of a standard. width may be mounted thereon and still have twice the height or depth of a tire of a standard width.

I preferably so modify the rim 15, I6, 16" and wheel 10, l0, 18" as to provide an inner annular flange 52, 52', 52" projecting upwardly from the inner end of said rim of substantially half the height of the tire abutting the inner wall thereof and an outer annular flange 68, 58', 58" projecting upwardly from the outer end of said rim I6, l6, l6" detachably securabl to said rim abutting the outer tire wall and also substantially half the height of said tire, said flanges providing with said rim, a groove for clamping the inner half of the tire therein, with the upper ends of said flanges extending at a radius from the center of the wheel substantially that of the usual rim and in effect providing a central groove 29, 29, 29" in the rim, having flat side walls extending downwardly a depth equal to the normal height of the tire above the standard rim. If desired, the rim 16" may be split into an inner rim portion 5 and into a rim outer portion 64", such as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

My improved tire i2, 12', (2'', therefore, comprises an oblong annular casing or shoe 22, 22,

side walls 24, 24', 24" termi- 22" having the fiat nating in flat rim abutting lower ends 26, 26', 26". Said lower ends 2B, 25', 26" may have a standard type of strengthening metal wire bead 28, 28 incorporated therein. The lower portions 3|, 3i, 3|" of the side wall of made of more rigid material than the upper portions 33, 33, 33 or they may, if desired, have reinforcing strengthening metal plates 35' secured to the inner and/or outer surfaces of the lower portions 3| of the tire wall as shown in the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in any suitable manner as by vulcanizing them thereto, or suitably riveting or otherwise securing them thereto.

The tires may be provided with suitable valves, 45, 44, 44 in the embodiments shown provided for this purpose in the suitably shaped inner tubes 49, 49', 49", shaped of the same general shape as the casings 22, 22, 22" to fit the chambers 40, 40 thereof.

In all embodiments of my invention shown I solid wheel 30, 3&1, 30", having the supporting rim 32, 32', 32" of a radius slightly less than the radius of said tire mounting wheel and tire, mounted on said axle in As stated the tire may be any suitable manner, preferably extending radially outwardly from the brake drum 34, 34, 34" to provide an emergency support for the vehicle in case of the collapse of the tire due to a puncture, blow-out or other loss of air, so that should said blow-out occur while driving, the vehicle will be immediately supported by the emergency wheel to prevent it from coming out of control of thedriver, to cause accidents or to permit it to be jacked up or run to the nearest garage for changing the tire.

As stated, the upper portion 33, 33, 33" of my improved tire is flexible so that in case of a blow-out or puncture, said, flexible portion will immediately collapse to a position below the height of the emergency rim 32, 32', 32", so as not to injure my improved tire whil the vehicle is being towed or driven to the nearest garage after a blow-out in use.

Due to the depth of the groove 29, 29, 29" provided by my improved inner and outer flanges 52, 52', 52" and 68, 6t, 63", it is obvious that I have provided a construction which positively will not be pulled out of its position in its groove 29, 29', 23" by traffic after a blow-out and will decrease also the danger of having the tire roll off on turning a corner at excessive speeds.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said emergency wheel is provided by continuing the inner flange 52 first inwardly and upwardly, and then upwardly and terminating in the fiat end 32 to provide the emergency supporting wheel.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said inner flange is continued inwardly and upwardly to terminate in the flat end or rim 32'.

I have provided, however, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a construction which I believe is entirely novel, namely, the annular flange 3B" projecting upwardly from the outside of the outer wall of the brake drum 34" to terminate in a flat end or rim 32".

It is quite obvious that this extra expense of metal adjacent the tire tends to conduct heat away from and dissipate it without injuriously affecting the rubber in the tire. It also conducts the heat from the brake drum and dissipates it, instead of its being conducted from or through 'the brake drum and rim to the tire itself.

I will now describe in detail the specific structure of the various embodiments shown, including the modifications of standard types of vehicle wheels and rims necessary for this purpose, although it is obvious that these specific constructions are merely illustrative of typical constructions employing the principles of my invention.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle wheel comprises a brake drum 34, an inner annular flange 36 connected to the brake drum in any suitable manner, such as in the embodiment shown by the bolts 38, having the flat annular rim providing portion l5 projecting laterally therefrom, having a down-set portion I08 at the outer end thereof, providing an annular shoulder I I0 having an annular socket I I2 therein, said down-set portion having an annular groove H4 therein beyond said shoulder, having spaced pairs of holes H8 therein diemetrically thereof, said annular flange projecting upwardly a substantial distance to provide the inner the wall abutting flange 52, then obliquely inwardly and upwardly as at 38, then upwardly as at 2T, terminating in the flat end 32 providing a supporting rim providing an emergency solid wheel." I provide the pneumatic tire i2, oblong in section, having the flat side walls 24 terminat- Z inner flange p52 apropos iingin the flat ends :26 abutting :saidarim :and an inner chamber portion 40 having atheightof-at .t-least itWi-GB. its width and :having .a substantially fiat-inner .end 3] substantially flattside walls 3.9, withsaidinner'tire wall 26 abutting said inner flange .52 substantially throughout half :the ilieight :thereoi.

To detachably secure the tire to the .rim, I provide the outer annular flange 68 also substantially of, half 'the height of the tire abutting the router wall of the tire and .having :the lower :end 12! abutting the shoulder iJIfl formed by the router inset portion 1 63 .of said rim andjhavingtheiannulardnwardly projecting rim 112:2 .con- :tained-within the annular groove II'Z thereof ianda. locking ring plate I25 comprisingztwo an- ;nu-lar sections 1124c and I241) contained within --.said groove 1;! .4, having an .inner surface-abutting the puterisurface of .saiddetachableouter flange -liiiiand pairs of vdiametricthreaded bolt .exten sions 126 projecting downwardly through :the diametric pairs of :holes H8 in :said .annular groove -I I4 in the outer down-set portionof .said 1 113121 4.08 and the .nuts 1| 28 threaded .on the lower :ends thereof abutting the lower surface of said ,Jdownset portion )8 .of said rim to clamp the sections 124a and I242) ofsaid locking ring I24 .:in position, WlthJitS innersurface abuttingsaid outer flange 68 to cause :it .to clamp against the 2011138,! :wall 26 of said tire to clamp said tire I2 xaga-instsaid inner flange .52 in the channel 29 :iormedby .said flanges.

:the embodiment of my invention shown in :Figs. Sand ;4,'the vehicle wheel Iii comprises-the Jorake drum Mi, .a wheel disc or web 36', having :an annular :lower end detachably 'securable :to'saidibrake drumtll'by the bolts'SB', a center portion 355 projecting outwardly and upwardly :therefrom, an upper portion 59' projecting upwardly therefrom and a flat annular rim'provid- #ing-portion I :6 mounted centrally of said upper portion, :having :radial slots I39 extending up- ":wardly partially :therethrough at circumferen- "tially spaced distances thereof (90 as shown),

:an inner annular .tire abutting flange 52 projecting upwardly from the inner end thereof a substantial .distance substantially half the height of the tire, then obliquely inwardly as at' 3ll terminating in the flat end 32', providing a supporting trim, 'wproviding anemergency solid wheel ...I provide also the pneumatic .tire I2 .oblong in section, having substantially flat side wal1s.24' terminating in flat .ends 25' abutting i-said rim I6 and having an inner chamber portion 4,0 having a'height rtwiceits width and having a substantially flat lower end .33 and susbtantiallyflat side walls '39", with said inner tire wall 26' abutting said substantially throughout half its height, and an outer detachable flange portion -68 of susbtantially half the height of the the abutting the outerwalll'fi'of said tire "and a portion I32 extending in annular formation inwardly thereof to the outer upper portion 59 of the disc flange 36' having circumferential spaced radial slots I33 extending upwardly therethrough below said slots I so and a portion I36 extending downwardly to abut the upper portion 59 of said disc flange, said upper portion of said disc flange 59' and said inner flange portion I34 of said outer flange having aligned bolt holes I36 and 38 therein.

I provide the locking plates I49 also having the bolt holes I42 therein aligned with said bolt holes I36 and I38, having the upper ends I43 substantially of at least 1 thereof inserted through :said -ci-rcumierential- .lyspacced slots I 33 within said {aligned ;.cir.cum

vferentiallyspaced slots .30 at .circumferentially spaced intervals throughout :the wheel, :four ,-as rshownin Fig. 4, bolts I M extending through :said :alignedboilt holes I36, I38 and I42 and nutsly lfi clamping the free ends of said bolts against a respective plate I and said abutting outer flange lower portion 134 and said disc flange upper portion 59, causing said outer flange-;portioniiB' to clamp against the outer .wall of said tire to clamp said-tire against said innerzflange 5T2 in the channel 29' .formedbysaid flanges. In this embodiment, the lower half portionszof :the tire side walls 26 are reinforcedby-having the .flat zmetallic supporting plates 35' secured to the inner and outer surfaces thereof, .iifidesired, it also being obvious that, .if desired, one .of these supporting plates may be omitted.

:In the embodiment of any invention shown ;in liigs.;5 and 6, myinvention comprises-thevehiole-wheel I0", comprising-the brake drumAM" having an annular flange-730" projecting upwardly therefrom, terminating in the flat: end 32" providing the supporting rim, ;providing .an emergency solid wheel.

I aiso provide an annular flange 36" projecting upwardly from the hub havin-g an .innerwall secured to the outer wall of said brake drum 34" in any suitable manner, such as by the bolts 3.37, and having a flange .Ififlprojectingdateral- -ly outwardly therefrom the desired Width :ofthe tire, providing a rim supporting flange. This embodiment of my invention includes a split rim and for this purpose Irprovide an inner =rim section 5!" of substantially half the width of the rim I 5", having an inner flange 52""pr0- jecting upwardly from the-inner endthereofpand a .cutawayport-ion I63 in alignment therewith for receiving the upper end of said hubflange 36''.

I also provide circumferentially spaced transverse holes I65 in said rim 5|", eight, as shown, each having a central cylindrical socket Ir66 extending laterally inwardly around said holes from the 'outer edgesthereof.

I also provide an outer rim portion -64" also .havingsimilarly circumferentially spaced transverse holes ISiLof a width substantially half the rim, having a central cylindrical projection ,I'Iil therein extending inwardly therefrom around each'hole, providing male projections Ill] fittin within the sockets I65 of'the inner rim :portion 5i" and an outer annular flange 68" project- .ing upwardly from the-outer end thereof to abut the outer wall of the tire of substantially the :height of said innerflange.

.I-also provide a pneumatic the i2" oblong section and having substantially flat side walls v2.4"terminating in flat ends-25" abutting :-;said rim i6 and having air-inner chamber portion 529" or" a height substantially of at least twice its widthiand having the flat lower c end .31 and substantially flat side walls 39" abutting said inner and outer flanges 52" and 68" and the bolts 2'2 extending outwardly through said aligned circumferentially spaced transverse holes I64 and its in said rim portions 5|" and 64" to secure said rim portions together and to said disc hub flange 36 and brake drum side wall and nuts E14 secured to the threaded outer ends of said bolts abutting the outer ends of said outer rim portion 64".

It is obvious that any of these tires with the constructions described may be readily, quickly type of cushion tire with the scribed above.

and easily detached by merely loosening the bolts and removing tire may be readily mounted therein in a reverse manner.

It is apparent that I have provided a novel advantages de- I employ the terms inner and outer in referring to the wheel, with inner signifying the portion adjacent the vehicle and outer signifying the portion away from the vehicle.

I employ the word upper and lower, upwardly and downwardly, etc., relative to the radial position oi the parts of the tire, upper signifying at a greater radial distance, and lower signifying at a less radial distance in accordance with common automobile parlance, instead of their more cumbersome, more accurate terms and despite the fact that the relative positions change on revolution of the tire, which, however, due to the fact that all parts of the tire are similar, makes no difierence.

It is apparent that I have provided a novel type of tire and wheel construction with the advan tages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom with out departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

an inner annular flange mounted on the side wall of said brake drum, having a flat annular rim providing portion projecting laterally therefrom, having a down-set portion at the outer end thereof providing an annular shoulder and having an annular groove therein beyond said shoulder having pairsof holes therein diametrically thereof, said inner annular flange projecting upwardly a substantial distance, then obliquely inwardly and upwardly and terminating in a flat end providing a supporting rim, providing an emergency solid wheel, a pneumatic tire oblong in section and having substantially fiat side walls terminating in flat ends abutting said rim and having an inner chamber portion having a height substantially of at least twice its width and havin a substantially fiat lower end and substantially flat side walls with said inner wall abutting said inner flange substantially throughout half its height and an outer annular flange also substantially half the height of said tire abutting the outer wall of said tire and having an 'end abutting the shoulder on the outer inset portion of said rim and a locking ring plate comprising two hemi-annular sections contained eithin said groove having an inner surface abutting the outer surface of said detachable flange and threaded bolt extensions projecting downwardly through the diametric pairs of holes in said annular groove in the outer down-set portion of said rim and nuts threaded on the lower ends thereof abutting the lower surface of the down-set portion of said rim to clamp the sections of said locking ring in position with its inner surface abutting said outer flange to cause it to clamp against the outer wall of said tire to clamp said tire against said inner flange in the channel formed by the said flanges.

2. A vehicle wheel, comprising a brake drum, an inner annular flange mounted on the side wall of said brake drum, having a flat annular rim providing portion projecting laterally therefrom, having a down-set portion at the outer end thereof providing an annular shoulder and having an annular groove therein beyond said shoulder having pairs of holes therein diametrically thereof, said inner annular flange projecting outwardly a substantial distance, a pneumatic tire oblong in section and having substantially flat side walls terminating in flat ends abutting said rim and having an inner chamber portion having a height substantially of at least twice its width and having a substantially flat lower end and substantially flat side walls with said inner wall abutting said inner flange substantially throughout half its height and an outer annular flange also substantially half the height of said tire abutting the outer wall of said tire and having an end abutting the shoulder on the outer inset portion of said rim and a locking ring plate comprising two hemi-annular sections contained within said. groove having an. inner surface abutting the outer surface of said detachable flange and threaded bolt extensions projecting downwardly through the diametric pairs of holes in said annular groove in the outer downset portion of said rim and nuts threaded on the lower ends thereof abutting the lower surfaces of the down-set portion of said rim to clamp the sections of said locking ring in position with its inner surface abutting said outer flange to cause it to clamp against the outer wall of said tire to clam said tire against said inner flange in the channel formed by the said flanges.

JOHN B. DES ROSIERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,435,566 Vanderley Nov. 14, 1922 1,481,488 Tobin Jan. 22, 1924 1,574,277 Conroy Feb. 23, 1926 1,712,322 Bachrach May 7, 1929 1,736,130 Cloud Nov. 19, 1929 2,234,838 Briskman Mar. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 528,300 France Nov. 9, 1921 

